Word Origin & History

fierce mid-13c., from O.Fr. fers, nom. form of fer, fier "wild, ferocious," from L. ferus "wild, untamed," from PIE base *gwer- "wild, wild animal" (cf. Gk. ther, O.C.S. zveri, Lith. zveris "wild beast"). Originally in English also with a sense of "brave, proud," which died out 16c., but caused the word at first to be commonly used as an epithet, which accounts for the rare instance of a French word entering English in the nominative case. Related: Fiercely; fierceness.

Example Sentences for fierce

The fierce red glare that lit the southern sky was ever mounting higher.

They stung the feather'd horse: with fierce alarm He flapp'd towards the sound.

The overseer cast a fierce but embarrassed look at the Creole.

Deborah, silent and fierce, grabbed at the handkerchief, and tore it from Maud's grasp.

It did not turn out to be so prolonged or so fierce a conflict as he had apprehended.

The boy was fierce, but never did he speak a word that was false.

He was fierce withal, as one of his colleagues will remember.

He was possessed with a fierce desire to meet at least one of his foes face to face.

But at the gateway of the palace there are two fierce lions.

Why should you lag behind the age in this fierce struggle for supremacy?